Spotting apparatus



Nov. 28,1944; w. c. GLOVER, JR

SPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR "gi l/am C. Glove/2 wk ATT NEY NOV. 28, 1944. w, GLQVER, JR 2,363,956

SPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR gay/121m c. GlavecJr:

Nov.28, 1944. Q LOVER, R 2,363,956

SPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1940 Y 3 Shgets-Sheet 3 Q q INVENTOR "III-1 I ATTORNEY a {VIII/22m C Glavel: Jr:

Patented Nov. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VSPOTTING APPARATUS William C. Glover, Jn, Raytown, Mo., asslgnor to Cleaners Specialties, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 24, 1940, Serial No. 320,591

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to garment cleaning apparatus particularly for removing spots that cannot be removed by ordinary dry cleaning solvents, and has for its principal object to provide an apparatus of this character wherein all the spotting operations may be carried on with a single pieceof equipment, thereby facilitating spotting operations and accomplishment of better and more eflicient work. Forexample, dry cleaning solvents in which most garments are dry cleaned will effectively remove grease, dirt, and-the like, but they will not remove perspiration stains, blood, syrups, inks, and similar, materials that can only be removed by chemicals, water, and/or steam. Usually garments are steamed over a steaming board before spotting and water soluble spots are easily removed with wet steam applied with a steam gun. After the water soluble spots are removed'it is necessary to carry the garments to a solid top spotting boardfor the removal of such spots as paints, stains, etc. that are not soluble in water or wet steam. Such spots require the use of chemicals, and the spots must be brushed or otherwise workedupon to soften and dissolve the spotting matter. It is then necessary to carry the garments back to the steaming apparatus so that the dissolved. matter can beflushed out with wet steam. This transfer of the garments necessitates loss of time and makes the spotting operations difficult due to the time required to shift the garment from one piece of equipment to another.

I have found that by providing a construction whereby the steaming equipment is incorporated in the spotting board the spots may be more effectively removed because there is a shorter time interval between the treating and steaming operations and they may be carried out in-such a manner that better work is accomplished with less fatigue of the operator.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a. combination spotting and steaming apparatus of simple'construction; to provide for variation of the moisture content of the steam so that it is best suited to the work in hand; and to' provide the apparatus with a support for retaining the various chemicals and spotting instruments such as brushes and the like in convenient reach of the operator.

paratus constructed in accordance with the present invention. A

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the apparatus as viewed from the opposite side.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the steam system associated with the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the spotting board showing the steam section of the board in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the spotting board on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.- I

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of the steam separator, partof which is shown in vertical section.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a spotting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

which includes a support 2 having a hollow, footlike base 3 supporting an upright post 4 which carries a combination spotting and steaming board 5. The board 5 preferably includes a sheet metal body having a bottom Sfand sides I and 8 converging from a vertical rear wall 9 toward a rounded outer end wall to so that tubular garments may be readily drawn thereover to effect the spotting operations as later described.

Carried on the rear end of the board 5 is a tray II for retaining the various chemicals, brushes, and other equipment used in spotting operations,

- and inset within the side walls 1 and B and extending from the front of the tray to the rounded front end 5 is a slab-lik top member l2, having a flat upper surface 13 which is impervious to the chemicals used in spotting operations. For example, the member I! may consist of a glass plate having one side provided with a notch-like recess M which cooperates with the side B to form a vacuum chamber IS. The recess l4 may extend from one side of the longitudinal median line of the board and have its rear end It spaced from the front of the tray so that a portion of the spotting surface may extend across the entire width of the board as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 of the. drawings. The plate may also .terminate short of the smaller end of the tray to extend the vacuum chamber across the rounded end 5 if desired. t

The top member is preferably of less thickness than the height of the side walls and issupported upon strip-like cushions l1 and I8 supported rails 19 and 20 respectively carried by thejside wall 1 and a divisional wall 2| that isinset intermediate the walls I and 8. The divisionwall 2i,

preferably consists of a Z-shaped member having one flange 22 fixed to the bottom 6 and the other flange extending into the vacuum chamber l5 at a point extending below the surface of the top member to form a ledge 23 which cooperates with a flange-like ledge 24 on a strip 25 which is attached tothe inner faces of the walls 8 and I and a part of wall 1 to support a cover 25 for the vacuum chamber. The including the ledge portion 24 thereof continues along the inner face of the rounded front end wall l0 and joins with the ledge portion 23 of the division wall as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of the vacuum chamber is defined by a partition-like support 21, also of substantially Z-shaped form in that it has an attaching flange 28 and an inwardly directed ledge-like flange 29 located in the plane of the ledges 23 and 24. The edge of the ledge-like flange 29 terminates in a depending lip 38 as shown in Fig. 5, for a purpose later described.

The cover 26 includes a woven wire or perforated metal support 3| of suitable size and shape so that the marginal edges thereof are supported on the ledges surrounding the vacuum chamber, and the support may be covered with a fabric sheet having the sides and ends folded thereunder, as at 32, and secured by elastic bands 33 extending transversely across the under side of the support. Fixed to the wire support at the rear end thereof are clips 34 and 35 having lug portions 36 adapted to engage under the lip 30 as shown in Fig. to anchor that end of the cover when it is placed in position over the vacuum chamber. The opposite end is retained by a clip 31 having a flange portion 38 extending over the upper edge of the cover also shown in Fig. 5,

The clip 31 is secured in position by fastening devices such as screws 39 which extend through suitable openings 48 in the clip and into threaded openings 4| in the rounded end wall If]. Extending longitudinally of the vacuum chamber and carried on bar-like supports 42 and 43 is a hairpin-shaped coil 44 having its ends 45 and 48 directed downwardly over the suppo t 43 and extending under the spotting board top through a notch 41 that is formed in the partition 21, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The terminal ends of the loop extend to the rear of the board where they terminate in lateral bends 48 and 49, which front of the strip pass through openings in the board 6. Connected with one of the terminals, for example the terminal 49, is a connection 50 forming a steam supply line whereby steam is delivered to the coil to heat the vacuum chamber. Steam is discharged through the other terminal 48through a pipe 5| provided with radiating fins 52 and which connects by an L 54 with a separator 55. Connected with the bottom of the separator 55 is a pipe 53, having a control valve 56, and which connects with a steam manifold 51, having connection as at 58 with the top of the separator 55, the valve 55 being connected with the manifold 51 by a T 59. Inserted in the manifold between the T '59 and the separator isa regulating valve 88 arator 55 is discharged to a trap 55' through a pipe 53'.

The throttle valve is actuated from a treadle 65 that is carried on a rock-shaft 66 journalled in the hollow foot 3 and which has awck-lever 81 on the rearend thereof that connects by a link 58 with the actuating lever 69 of the throttle valve. The rock-shaft also carries a rock-lever 10 having connection with an actuating lever H of a throttle valve 12 located in a steam discharge line 13 which connects with the separator as indicated at 14. The opposite end of the discharge pipe 13 connects with an aspirator 15 having a suction branch 16 communicating with the vacuum chamber of the steam board through the notch-like opening in the partition 21, the branch 16 being connected with a sump H in the board 6. Connected with the aspirator is a discharge 18 wherethrough the spent steam and moisture withdrawn from a garment is conveyed to a suitable place of disposal.

The separator is preferably provided with laterally extending lugs 19 and 88 that are connected by suitable fastening devices 8| and 82 with similar lugs 83 and 84 on the post-like support 4. Also carried by the post-like support at a point below the spotting board is a collar 85 having laterally directed arms 88 and 81 mounting a wire-like frame 88 of a garment support 89. The garment support 89 includes a cloth-likebasket or shelf applied on the frame 88 as shown in Fig. 2.

The side 1 of the board, at a point adjacent the tray, is preferably provided with a rail 90 t which a hook 9| on the spotting tool is engaged to support the tool in convenient reach of the operator.

In operating a spotting board constructed and assembled as described, various spotting chemicals,brushes', and the like are placed in the tray in convenient reach of the operator, and assuming that the steam supply has been connected with the pipe 50, steam is passed through the heater to heat the spotting board and especially the cover section of thevacuum chamber. After circulating through the heating coil the steam is cooled and partially condensed to supply moistened steam to the separator. The moist steam passes to the bottom of the separator to the pipe 53 and into the manifold 51 upon opening of the valve 56. The drier steam passes to the top of the separator and discharges into the manifold through the fitting 58 upon opening of the valve 60 so that both moist and dry steam are delivered to the throttle valve 6|. By regulating the valves 56 and 60, steam of the desired moisture content may be delivered through the nozzle 62 of the spotting tool whenever the treadle'BS is pressed by the operator. Simultaneously with operation of the treadle the valve 12 is opened so that steam from the separator is also discharged through the pipe 13-to the aspirator which effects a vacuum within the vacuum chamber of the spotting board so that air is drawn through the meshes of the fabric and interstices of the supporting screen.

The garment to be spotted is placed on the spotting surface of the board and the required chemical is applied thereto in accordance with the judgment and skill of the operator. The garment may then be shifted so that the spot is brought over a portion of the steaming cover, whereupon the discharge nozzle of the spotting tool is placed over the spot and the foot treadle is depressed to discharge steam through the fabric, flushing out the substances forming the spot. Simultaneously a vacuum is being effected within may be reapplied and the spot brushed to effect.

the removal thereof, after which the garment is again shifted over the steaming section and sub mitted to steam discharged from the nozzle 62. With some types of spots it may be best to first steamthe garment by placing it over the steam- ,ing section of the board and then shifting it to the spotting area of the board where it is subjected to chemical and/or brushing treatment.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an apparatus wherewith all of the spotting operations are effected at a single station so as to conserve the time of the operator and provide for better work and facilitate removal of spots from garments which cannot be removed by ordinary dry cleaning solvents.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a combination spotting and steaming board on the support including, a pan-like body having a wall-like rim, a partition dividing said body into separate compartments, heating means in said compartments, a supporting ledge extending in inset relation with the rim of said body,

, cooperative supporting ledges on said partition,

an imperforate cover covering one of said compartments of the body on one side'of said partition and carried on the supporting ledges, a screen member carried on the supporting ledges at the opposite side of said partition and closing the other compartment of said ,pan-like body, a

fabric covering supported on the screen member and having the marginal edge thereof secured to the under face of the screen member, clips on one end of the screen member engaging under a portion of said partition, and a retaining member fixed to the pan-like body and having" a portion engaging over said screen member to cooperate with said clips in retaining the screen 'member on the supporting ledge with the upper surface of the fabric covering in plane with the upper surface of the imperforate cover. a

2. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a substantially pan-like body on the support, an imperforate cover for a portion of said pan-like body having a supporting surface for a garment to be spotted, a screen cover on the remaining portion of said pan-like body 3. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a substantially pan-like body on the support, an imperforate cover for a portion of said pan-like body having aIsupporting surface for a garment to be spotted. a screenvlike cover on the remaining portion of said panlike body, a steam heater supported inheating relation with said pan like body and having a steam inlet and a steam outlet, a separator hav- -ing a flow connection with the steam outlet of the heater for separating condensate from steam d'scharged through said outlet into the separator, a steam actuated aspirator having an inlet in connection with the pan-like body for removing steam from the pan-like body discharged through a garment supported on said screen-like cover, a duct connecting the aspirator with the separatorfor delivering a portion of steam separated in the separator to the aspirator, a nozzle for discharging steam through a garment when supported on said perforated cover, and duct means connecting the nozzle with the separator for delivering steam to the nozzle.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a substantially pan-like body on the support, an imperforate cover for a portion of said pan-like body having a supportingsaid body having a chamber below the screen cover, a steam heater supported in said pan-like body to heat said covers and having a steam inlet through which steam is admitted to said heater and having a steam outlet, a separator having a flow connection with the steam outlet of the heater for separating condensate from steam discharged through said outlet into the separator, a steam actuated aspirator having an inlet in connection with the pan-like body for removing steam from said chamber, a duct connecting the aspirator with the separator for delivering a por. tion of steam separated in the separator to the aspirator, a, nozzle, and duct means connecting the nozzle with the separator for delivering steam to the nozzle for discharge through the garment surface for a garment to be spotted. a. screen cover on the remainingportion of said pan-like body, a steam heater supported in said panlike body and having a steam inlet through which steam is admitted to said heater and having a steam outlet, a steam actuated aspirator having an inlet in connection with the pan-like body for removing steam from the pan-like body discharged through a garment supported on said perforated cover, and duct means connecting the nozzle with the heater for delivering steam to the nozzle for discharge through the garment when supported on said perforated cover.

5. An apparatus of the character described including a, support, a, combination spotting and steaming board carried on the support including a substantially pan-like body having a wall-like rim, a partition dividing said body into separate compartments, a supporting ledge extending inwardly from said rim, cooperative supporting ledges on the partition, an imperforate cover for one of said compartments on one side of said partition and carried on the supporting ledges, a screen covering the other compartment and carried on said ledges, a fabric covering for the screen, a steam heater supported in heating relation with said pan-like body and having a' steam inlet through which steam is admitted to said heater and having a steam outlet, a separator having a flow connection with the steam outlet of the heater for separating condensate from steam discharged through said outlet into the separator, an aspirator having an inlet in connection with the pan-like body for removing steam from the pan-like body discharged through a, garment supported on said fabric coverng, a steam nozzle, a flexible duct connecting the nozzle with the separator for delivering steam to the nozzle for discharge through the garment when supported on said perforated cover, and a duct connecting the separator with the last named duct for conveying condensate to the steam being delivered to the nozzle for increasing the moisture content of the steam discharged from the nozzle.

6. An apparatus" of the character described including a support, a substantially pan-like body on the support having imperforate and perforate top sections, a steam heater supported in heating relation with said pan-like body and having a steam inlet through which. steam is admitted to said heater and having a steam outlet, a separator having a flow connection with the steam outlet of the heater for separating condensate from steam discharged through said outlet into the separator, a steam actuated aspirator having an inlet in connection with the panlike body forremoving steam from the pan-like body discharged through a garment when supported on said perforate section, a duct connecting the aspirator with the separator for delivering a portion of steam separated in the separator to the aspirator, a nozzle, duct means connecting the nozzle with the separator for de-.

portion of said pan-like body having asupporting surface for a garment to be spotted, a screenlike cover on the remaining portion of said panlike body, a .steam heater supported in heating relation with said pan-like body including the imperforate cover and having a steam inlet and a steam outlet, a separator having a flow connection with the steam outlet of the heater for separating condensate from steam discharged through said outlet into the separator, a steam actuated aspirator having an inlet in connection with the pan-like body for removing steam from the pan-like body which is discharged through a garment supported on said perforated cover, a duct connecting the aspirator with the separator for delivering a portion of steam separated in the separator to the aspirator, a, nozzle, a flexible duct connecting the nozzle with the separator for delivering steam from the separator to the nozzle for discharge through the garment when supported on said perforated cover, and a duct connecting the separator with the last named duct for conveying condensate t0 the steam being delivered to the nozzle for v WILLIAIVI C. GLOVER, JR. 

